Proverbs 25 - Revised Version with Apocrypha 1895

¹ These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out

² It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

³ The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, And the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴ Take away the dross from the silver, And there cometh forth a vessel for the finer:

⁵ Take away the wicked from before the king, And his throne shall be established in righteousness.

⁶ Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:

⁷ For better is it that it be said unto thee, Come up hither; Than that thou shouldest be put lower in the presence of the prince, Whom thine eyes have seen.

⁸ Go not forth hastily to strive, Lest thou know not what to do in the end thereof, When thy neighbour hath put thee to shame.

⁹ Debate thy cause with thy neighbour himself, And disclose not the secret of another:

¹⁰ Lest he that heareth it revile thee, And thine infamy turn not away.

¹¹ A word fitly spoken Is like apples of gold in baskets of silver.

¹² As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, So is a wise reprover upon an obedient ear.

¹³ As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, So is a faithful messenger to them that send him; For he refresheth the soul of his masters.

¹⁴ As clouds and wind without rain, So is he that boasteth himself of his gifts falsely.

¹⁵ By long forbearing is a ruler persuaded, And a soft tongue breaketh the bone.

¹⁶ Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee; Lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.

¹⁷ Let thy foot be seldom in thy neighbour's house; Lest he be weary of thee, and hate thee.

¹⁸ A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour Is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble Is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

²⁰ As one that taketh off a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, So is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

²¹ If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink:

²² For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, And the LORD shall reward thee.

²³ The north wind bringeth forth rain: So doth a backbiting tongue an angry countenance.

²⁴ It is better to dwell in the comer of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

²⁵ As cold waters to a thirsty soul, So is good news from a far country.

²⁶ As a troubled fountain, and a corrupted spring, So is a righteous man that giveth way before the wicked.

²⁷ It is not good to eat much honey: So for men to search out their own glory is not glory.

²⁸ He whose spirit is without restraint Is like a city that is broken down and hath no wall.